From Agincourt to Zanzibar: A Where-in-the-World Guide to 300+ Places (Capital Travels) [Paperback]

Don Hausrath (Author), Paul Wasserman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2008 | Series: Capital Travels

Test your knowledge with modern explorers as they roam the world's great places--real and mythical, ancient and contemporary, celebrated and obscure--unearthing curious facts and cultural gems. Arranged in the time-honored A to Z manner so loved by these two scholars, their explorations range over more than 300 biblical, historical, mythical, literary and real places with curious facts and suggested readings for each. Includes: ·Armageddon-- An ancient fortified city in Palestine and the most important archaeological site in present day Israel . . . It was here in 1468 BCE that an Egyptian army led by Pharaoh Thutmuse III attacked the Canaanite army controlling Megiddo. ·Lascaux Cave--Located above the Vezere River Valley close to the town of Montignac, Dordogne, in southwest central France contains the most extensive and well preserved examples of prehistoric art of all caves in Ice Age Europe. ·Amazonia--The fabled land of formidable women warriors who played a prominent role in Greek mythology. ·Asbestos, Canada--A small city in the southern part of the province of Quebec, 26 miles north of Sherbrooke, not only does this town have a unique name based on the discovery of asbestos here in 1878, but it has also played an important role in Canadian labor history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fact-filled gazette of mythical and real place names, the book is a fantastic resource for thoughtful travelers and trivia fans. From Agincourt to Zanzibar is just the ticket for traveling through history. Curious about Capri? Wondering about Waterloo? Then drill through this book for insight and background data. ... Especially useful is the index of place names by category defunct empires, crucial battles, biblical sites and other locations celebrated in fiction and film. Who knew Hoboken had such an interesting past? --L. Peat O Neil, author of Travel Writing: See the World, Sell the Story

"Don't let the alphabetical order fool you. This book is an alternative history of the world, both eccentrically conceived and sensibly executed. If Karl Baedecker, Italo Calvino, and Herodotus had shared more than a few bottles of wine, they might have thought it up. But would they have written it? We must be grateful to Don Hausrath and Paul Wasserman for their diligence as well as inventiveness. Marching through over three hundred places across the landscape real and imaginary, their brisk, informative prose never falters, depositing at every map point the twin pearls of a curious fact and a recommended book or website. Only three hundred or so! Please, sirs, may I have some more?" --Robert Eisner, Professor Emeritus of Classics and Humanities, San Diego State, author of Travelers to an Antique Land: The History and Literature of Travel to Greece; contributing editor, The Literature of Travel and Exploration: An Encyclopedia

"Mind-bogglingly comprehensive--how did these guys write it in less than a lifetime? From Agincourt to Zanzibar is also terrifically informative and entertaining. Who knew that the prostitutes of Dodge City would have nothing to do with the stinky, lice-ridden buffalo hunters who frequented the local bars or that Hamelin, home to the Pied Piper, is a real city in Germany? I even learned that Brighton Beach, where I spent my childhood summers, had a casino in the 1880s and that it served as the location for the Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello film, Back to the Beach. All in all, this book is a delight to dip into, offering surprises on nearly every page." --Edie Jarolim, travel writer and author of Arizona for Dummies

About the Author

Paul Wasserman is a professor emeritus at the University of Maryland College of Information Studies. He has published several books in the field of library science. His most recent books include The Best of Times: A Personal and Occupational Odyssey and Statistics Sources.Paul is also the author of NEW YORK FROM A TO Z and WASHINGTON, DC FROM A TO Z. He lives in the Washington DC area, Don Hausrath retired from the Senior Foreign Service in 1995. Since then he has served as an adjunct at the University of Maryland College of Information Studies and at Gavilan College in California. He was co-author of WASHINGTON DC FROM A TO Z and lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 462 pages
• Publisher: Capital Books (January 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933102292
• ISBN-13: 978-1933102290
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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